Smoking article packaging

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a smoking article package, which package comprises a sealed enclosure ( 1 ) around a charge of smoking articles and a sheet material wrap ( 7 ) disposed exteriorly of the enclosure ( 1 ). The sheet material wrap ( 7 ) is so configured as to provide means by which the first opening of the enclosure ( 1 ) cannot take place without the wrap ( 7 ) being torn or partially or fully removed.

[0001] The subject invention relates to the packaging of smokingarticles, such as for example cigarettes, cigarillos and cigars.

[0002] It has been proposed to package cigarettes by providing about acharge of cigarettes a sealed enclosure of sheet barrier material, whichenclosure comprises a cigarette removal access aperture and a coverlayer, which cover layer serves to sealingly close the access aperture.In that the cover layer comprises at the under face thereof a marginalzone of permanently tacky adhesive, after the cover layer has beenpeeled back to open the access aperture to permit the removal of acigarette from the package, the cover layer may be reapplied against theexterior face of the barrier material of the enclosure about theperiphery of the access aperture, thus to reseal the enclosure.

[0003] The access aperture may be provided by cutting the barriermaterial in a closed figure, a rectangle for example, and removing thethus defined portion of the barrier material, in which case the materialof the cover layer is preferably a barrier material. The access aperturemay alternatively be provided by cutting the barrier material in aclosed figure but, instead of removing the portion of barrier materialdefined by the line of cut, applying the cover layer over and adheringthe cover layer to that portion of the barrier material. Thus accordingto this alternative, when the cover layer is peeled back, the aforesaidportion of the barrier material is removed from the aperture and isreinserted therein when the cover layer is brought again to the apertureclosure position thereof. As disclosed in the specification and drawingsof WO98/22367, instead of providing a line of cut in a closed figure, aline of cut,, or a line of weakening, may be provided such as to definea flap, the cover layer being adhered to the flap.

[0004] The sheet barrier materials proposed and used for the sealedenclosures have high barrier properties. Thus the tobacco of thecigarettes contained in the enclosures are protected against changes inmoisture content or losses of volatile flavour compounds. The consumermay thereby receive factory fresh cigarettes even if the package hasbeen stored for a period significantly exceeding the sell-by date whichwould obtain if the package was of conventional construction.

[0005] In that the key merit of cigarette packages comprising aresealable barrier enclosure is the maintenance of original cigarettecondition, it is of importance to the consumer to have an assurance whentaking possession of such a package that there has occurred no prioropening of the package. It is thus an object of the subject invention toprovide such a package with means offering such assurance to theconsumer.

[0006] The subject invention provides a smoking article package havingtwo major walls, two side walls, and two end walls, said packagecomprising:

[0007] a sealed enclosure of a layer of barrier material around a chargeof smoking articles, a smoking article removal access aperture beingdefined in the barrier material layer, said aperture extending from thetop end wall into one of said major faces of said package and thereextending over said aperture, and extending beyond all of the edgesthereof, a cover layer comprising a permanently tacky surface engageablewith said barrier material layer adjacent to said edges of said aperturebeyond said aperture and said layer comprising a non-adhesive pull-tab,whereby, after opening of said aperture said enclosure can be resealedby re-engaging said permanently tacky surface of said cover layer withsaid barrier material layer adjacent to said edges beyond said aperture;and

[0008] a sheet material wrap disposed exteriorly of said enclosure andextending over at least a portion of said cover layer and over saidbarrier layer adjacent thereto, whereby the first opening of saidsmoking article removal access aperture cannot take place without saidwrap being torn or partially or fully removed.

[0009] Preferably the wrap does not impede access to the pull-tab.

[0010] Preferably the sheet material wrap extends over the front andrear major walls, the two side walls and the bottom end wall of thesealed enclosure. Advantageously, at the location of the non-adhesivepull-tab of the cover layer, the sheet material wrap comprises anelongate, laterally extending opening. Suitably the non-adhesivepull-tab projects through said opening.

[0011] Alternatively, lines of weakening in the sheet material wrap maydefine an elongate flap, the flap comprising a non-weakened lower hingeline, such that, upon the flap being folded outwardly and downwardlyabout the hinge line, there exists an opening via which the non-adhesivepull-tab may be caused to extend.

[0012] In a further alternative, the opening in the sheet material wrapmay be a single line of cut in said wrap through which the pull-tabextends.

[0013] Alternatively, the sheet material wrap extends over a portion ofthe front wall, the two side walls and the bottom end wall of the sealedenclosure. Advantageously, the sheet material wrap covers substantiallyall of the two side walls and the bottom end wall.

[0014] Preferably, the sheet material wrap extends over at least aportion of the cover layer and the barrier layer at the top end wall.Advantageously, the sheet material wrap extends over substantially allof the top end wall.

[0015] Alternatively, the sheet material wrap extends over a portion ofthe cover layer and the barrier layer at the front major wall. Suitably,there may be provided at least one line of weakening in the sheetmaterial wrap, whereby the first opening of the smoking article removalaccess aperture cannot take place without said sheet material wrap beingtorn along said line of weakening.

[0016] In a yet further alternative the sheet material wrap extends oversubstantially all of the front major wall, of the sealed enclosure tosubstantially conceal the cover layer at the front major wall thereof.

[0017] Preferably, the sheet material wrap has a line of weakeningtherein. Advantageously, the sheet material wrap has a pull-tab, wherebythe sheet material wrap may be torn, or partially or fully removed.Suitably, said pull-tab is located adjacent to either a side wall or thetop wall of the package.

[0018] In order that the subject invention may be clearly understood andreadily carried into effect reference will now be made, by way ofexample, to the drawings herewith, in which:

[0019]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view, from the rear and below, of acigarette package of known type;

[0020]FIG. 2 shows a perspective view, from the front and above, of thecigarette package of FIG. 1;

[0021]FIG. 3 shows a perspective view, from the front and above, of acigarette package according to the subject invention;

[0022]FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an inner frame; and

[0023] FIGS. 5-7 show a perspective view, from the front and above, eachof alternative embodiments of the invention.

[0024] The prior art cigarette package of FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises anenclosure 1 of flexible sheet barrier material. The barrier material maysuitably be, for example, a metal foil/plastics laminate or a metallisedplastics film.

[0025] As is readily observable from FIGS. 1 and 2, edge portions of thesheet barrier material are folded one over the other at the two sidewalls and at the bottom end wall of the enclosure 1. These overlappingedge portions of the barrier material are sealed by use, for example, ofa heat activated sealant.

[0026] A cigarette access aperture of the enclosure 1 is bounded by aline 2 of weakening in the barrier material of the enclosure 1. As maybe seen from FIG. 2, the aperture extends across the top end wall of theenclosure 1 from the rear edge 3 to the front edge 4 of the top end walland into the front major wall of the enclosure 1, extending downwardlyof the front major wall by about one sixth of the total height thereof.The rear edge 3 of the top end wall also bounds the access aperture,which aperture is thus completely defined by the line of weakening 2 inthe barrier material and the edge 3 of the enclosure 1. A cover layer 5of generally rectangular configuration is adhered, by the all-overapplication of adhesive at the under face thereof, to the barriermaterial of the enclosure 1 and extends at an upper portion of the rearmajor wall of the enclosure 1 (see FIG. 1) and, when the cover layer 5is in the aperture closure position thereof, across the top end wall andat an upper portion of the front major wall (see FIG. 2) . As is clearlyseen from FIG. 2, at each end of the top end wall of the enclosure 1 thecover layer 5 extends beyond that portion of the access aperture whichis defined at the top end wall. Similarly, and as can also readily beappreciated from FIG. 2, the cover layer 5 extends beyond all threesides of that portion of the access aperture which is defined by theline of weakening 2 at the front major wall of the enclosure 1.

[0027] At least in the continuous marginal zone of the under face of thecover layer 5 disposed outwardly of the defined access aperture at thetop end wall and the front major wall of the enclosure 1 the adhesiveapplied thereto is a permanently tacky adhesive. The adhesive at thatportion of the under face of the cover layer 5 which overlies the accessaperture may be the same permanently tacky adhesive as is applied at theaforesaid marginal zone of the under face. The same permanently tackyadhesive may also constitute that which is employed for the purpose ofanchoring the cover layer 5 at the rear wall of the enclosure 1 (FIG.1).

[0028] Extending from the lower edge of the portion of the cover layer 5which, as viewing FIG. 2, is at the front major wall of the enclosure 1,is a pull-tab 6. The under face of the pull-tab 6 is free of anyadhesive and thus the pull-tab 6 does not adhere to the barrier materialof the enclosure 1 and is therefore readily graspable by a consumer forthe purpose of peeling back the cover layer 5 from the front major wallof the enclosure 1, and at least partially at the top end wall thereof,and thus peeling back to a corresponding extent, the portion of thebarrier material defined by line of weakening 2, which portion isadhered to the cover layer 5, in order to remove a cigarette from theenclosure 1 via the access aperture bounded by the line of weakening 2.

[0029] The package shown in FIG. 3, which package is in accordance withthe subject invention, comprises a package identical to the prior artpackage of FIGS. 1 and 2, but in addition the inventive package of FIG.3 comprises an outer sheet material wrap 7. The wrap 7 extends over thefront and rear major walls, the two side walls and the bottom end wallof the enclosure 1, but does not extend over the top end wall of theenclosure 1. Suitably, the wrap 7 is adhesively anchored to theenclosure 1 at a location(s) not shown.

[0030] At the outward surface thereof the wrap 7 bears indicia such, forexample, as a brand name and/or logo. The package thus resembles inappearance a soft cup cigarette package.

[0031] At the location of the pull-tab 6 of the cover layer 5, the outerwrap 7 comprises an elongate, laterally extending opening 8. Thepull-tab 6 projects, substantially perpendicularly of the enclosure 1(once any overwrap material is removed), through the opening 8. Thepull-tab 6 is thus readily graspable notwithstanding the presence of thewrap 7 about the enclosure 1.

[0032] At the first opening of the FIG. 3 package the pull-tab 6 isgrasped for the purpose of peeling back the cover layer 5. In a firstpart of such peeling back action, the wrap 7 is perforce torn at thatportion thereof between the opening 8 and the upper edge (9) of the wrap7. This tearing of the wrap 7 constitutes a clear indication that accesshas been had to the interior of the package.

[0033] Suitably, the outer wrap 7 is of a relatively easily tornmaterial, a paper for example.

[0034] To aid in the tearing of the wrap 7 by way of the first peelingpack of the cover layer 5, especially if the wrap 7 is of a materialwhich is not easily tearable, two lines of weakening (not shown) may beprovided, which lines extend from respective ends of the opening 8 tothe edge 9 of the wrap 7.

[0035] There may be applied about the FIG. 3 package a fully envelopingprotective overwrap of polyfilm, which overwrap is provided with a tearstrip. Such an overwrap is conventional for soft cup packages and may betransparent. Suitably, before the overwrap is applied about the FIG. 3package the pull-tab 6 is folded up in face-to-face contact with theouter wrap 7.

[0036] Advantageously, the FIG. 3 package comprises frame means (notshown in FIG. 3), which frame means is disposed between the aforesaidcharge of cigarettes and walls of the enclosure 1. The frame meansserves to impart to the FIG. 3 package a degree of rigidity which isabsent from a conventional soft cup package.

[0037] The frame means may take the form, for example, of the innerframe depicted in FIG. 4. That inner frame, which is generally asdisclosed in WO98/22367 and WO98/22368, is formed of a stiff, foldablecard or paper material. The inner frame comprises a major panel 10 ofgenerally rectangular configuration and of height and width dimensionscorresponding respectively to the height and width dimensions of thefront major wall of the enclosure 1 of the FIG. 3 package. The innerframe further comprises side panels 11, 12, of height and widthdimensions corresponding to those of the side walls of the enclosure 1,and a base panel 13.

[0038] Thus when frame means as per the FIG. 4 inner frame isincorporated in the FIG. 3 package, the panel 10 is disposed immediatelybehind the front major wall of the enclosure 1 and side panels 11, 12are similarly disposed relatively of the respective side walls of theenclosure 1. The charge of cigarettes in the FIG. 3 package rests uponthe base panel 13 when the package is in the orientation thereof asshown in FIG. 3.

[0039] The panel 10 of the FIG. 4 inner frame comprises a cutout 14,which cutout 14 is dimensioned and configured for registration with thatportion of the access aperture of the enclosure 1 extending at the frontmajor wall of the enclosure 1. Extending from the upper ends of sidepanels 11, 12 respectively are tabs 15, 16, which tabs 15, 16 extendinwardly to, or into the region of, the respective edges of that portionof the access aperture which extends at the top end wall of theenclosure 1.

[0040] When, after there has occurred an opening of the FIG. 3 package,the cover layer 5 is brought back to the aperture closure positionthereof, and the permanently tacky adhesive at the margin of the coverlayer 5 is pressed against the barrier material of the enclosure 1 tomake good the resealing of the aperture, the tabs 15, 16 and portions ofthe panel 10 adjacent the cutout 14 serve to provide reaction surfaces,and to strengthen the upper surface or top of the package.

[0041] The configuration of the FIG. 4 inner frame is such as to impartto the FIG. 3 package sharp, right-angle corners at the junctures of thepackage front and rear walls with the side walls thereof. The innerframe may be alternatively configured such as to provide for bevelled orrounded corners at these junctures.

[0042] Whereas the opening 8 of the outer wrap 7 is provided by cuttingthe material of the wrap 7 in a closed elongate figure and removing anddiscarding the thus defined portion of the material, it is conceivablethat an opening serving the same purpose could be provided otherwise.Thus, for example, lines of weakening could define an elongate flap, theflap comprising a non-weakened lower hinge line, such that, upon theflap being folded outwardly and downwardly about the hinge line, thereexists an opening via which the pull-tab 6 may be caused to extend.According to another alternative, the opening takes the form of a singleline of cut in the wrap 7, through which the pull-tab 6 extends.

[0043] The outer wrap 7 need not extend fully about the enclosure 1. Forexample, it may be the case that instead of the wrap 7 extending fullyacross the rear major wall of the enclosure 1, the wrap 7 extends atonly edge portions of the rear major wall. Of course, if the wrap 7 doesnot extend fully about the enclosure 1, the wrap 7 must of necessity beanchored to the enclosure 1.

[0044] The outer wrap may extend over the top end wall of the enclosure1. If the outer wrap extends fully over the top end wall of theenclosure 1, then at the first opening of the package the outer wrapwill be torn not only at the major front wall of the package, but at thetop end wall thereof as well. If the outer wrap does not extend at thefront wall over the front of the cover layer but does extend over thetop end wall of the enclosure, then at the first opening of the packagethe outer wrap will be torn but only at the top end wall thereof.

[0045] The package shown in FIG. 5, which package is in accordance withan alternative embodiment of the subject invention, comprises a packageidentical to the package of FIG. 3, but the sheet material wrap 7extends over a portion of the front major wall and the top end wall, andall of the two side walls, the rear major wall and the bottom end wall.The wrap 7 is open over a portion of the front major wall and the topend wall, such that the pull-tab 6 may be grasped for the purpose ofpeeling back the cover layer 5. In the first part of such peeling backaction, a portion of the wrap 7 is perforce torn. This tearing of thewrap 7 constitutes a clear indication that access has been had to theinterior of the package.

[0046] To aid in the tearing of the wrap 7 by way of the first peelingback of the cover layer 5, especially if the wrap 7 is of a materialwhich is not easily tearable, two lines of weakening (not shown) may beprovided, which lines extend through the sheet material wrap fromrespective ends of the pull-tab 6 to the rear edge 3′ of the wrap 7.

[0047] The package shown in FIG. 6, which is a package in accordancewith a further alternative to the subject invention, comprises a packageidentical to the package of FIG. 5, but the sheet material wrap 7extends over a portion of the cover layer 5 at the front major wall ofthe enclosure 1, and does not cover the top end wall of the enclosure 1.

[0048] The package shown in FIG. 7, which is a package in accordancewith a further alternative to the subject invention, comprises a packageidentical to the package of FIG. 3, but the sheet material wrap 7extends over all of the front major wall, the two side walls, the bottomend wall and the rear major wall of the enclosure 1 to conceal the coverlayer 5 at the front major wall thereof.

[0049] To aid the tearing of the wrap 7, there may be provided a line ofweakening 17 extending at least between the two sides walls of the wrap7, and a pull-tab 18, whereby the wrap 7 may be torn, or partially orfully removed, thereby providing access to the pull-tab 6.

[0050] Suitably, the pull-tab 18 is located adjacent to either a sidewall or the top end wall of the enclosure 1.

[0051] Advantageously, any of the packages described may comprise framemeans, which frame means is disposed between the aforesaid charge ofcigarettes and the walls of the enclosure 1. The frame serves to impartto the package a degree of rigidity which is absent from theconventional soft cup package.

[0052] The frame means may take the form, for example, of the innerframe depicted in FIG. 4.

1. A smoking article package having two major walls, two side walls, andtwo end walls, said package comprising: a sealed enclosure of a layer ofbarrier material around a charge of smoking articles, a smoking articleremoval access aperture being defined in the barrier material layer,said aperture extending from the top end wall into one of said majorfaces of said package and there extending over said aperture, andextending beyond all of the edges thereof, a cover layer comprising apermanently tacky surface engageable with said barrier material layeradjacent to said edges of said aperture beyond said aperture and saidlayer comprising a non-adhesive pull-tab, whereby, after opening of saidaperture said enclosure can be resealed by re-engaging said permanentlytacky surface of said cover layer with said barrier material layeradjacent to said edges beyond said aperture; and a sheet material wrapdisposed exteriorly of said enclosure and extending over at least aportion of said cover layer and over said barrier layer adjacentthereto, whereby the first opening of said smoking article removalaccess aperture cannot take place without said wrap being torn orpartially or fully removed.
 2. A smoking article package according toclaim 1, wherein said sheet material wrap does not impede access to saidnon-adhesive pull-tab.
 3. A smoking article package according to claim1, wherein said sheet material wrap extends over said front and rearmajor walls, said two side walls and said bottom end wall of said sealedenclosure.
 4. A smoking article package according to any one of claims1-3, wherein at the location of said non-adhesive pull-tab of said coverlayer said sheet material wrap comprises an elongate, laterallyextending opening.
 5. A smoking article package according to claim 4,wherein said non-adhesive pull-tab projects through said opening.
 6. Asmoking article package according to any one of claims 1-3, whereinlines of weakening in the sheet material wrap define an elongate flap,the flap comprising a non-weakened lower hinge line, such that, upon theflap being folded outwardly and downwardly about said hinge line, thereexists an opening via which said non-adhesive pull-tab may be caused toextend.
 7. A smoking article package according to any one of claims 1-3,wherein said opening in said sheet material wrap may be a single line ofcut in said wrap through which said pull-tab extends.
 8. A smokingarticle package according any one of the preceding claims, wherein saidsheet material wrap extends over a portion of said front wall, said sidewalls and said bottom end wall.
 9. A smoking article package accordingto claim 8, wherein said sheet material wrap covers substantially all ofsaid side walls and said bottom end wall.
 10. A smoking article packageaccording to claim 8 or 9, wherein said sheet material wrap extends overat least a portion of said cover layer and said barrier layer at saidtop end wall.
 11. A smoking article package according to claim 10,wherein said sheet material wrap extends over substantially all of saidtop end wall.
 12. A smoking article package according to claim 1 or 2,wherein said sheet material wrap extends over a portion of said coverlayer and said barrier layer at said front major wall.
 13. A smokingarticle package according to claim 12, wherein there is at least oneline of weakening in said sheet material wrap, whereby the first openingof said smoking article removal access aperture cannot take placewithout said sheet material wrap being torn along said line ofweakening.
 14. A smoking article package according to claim 1, whereinsaid sheet material wrap extends over substantially all of said frontmajor wall of said sealed enclosure to substantially conceal said coverlayer at the front major wall thereof.
 15. A smoking article packageaccording to claim 14, wherein said sheet material wrap has a line ofweakening therein.
 16. A smoking article package according to claim 14or 15, wherein said sheet material wrap has a pull-tab, whereby saidsheet material wrap may be torn or partially or fully removed.
 17. Asmoking article package according to claim 16, wherein said pull-tab islocated adjacent to either a side wall or said top wall of said package.18. A smoking article package according to any one of the precedingclaims, wherein said sheet material wrap is adhesively anchored to saidsealed enclosure.
 19. A smoking article package according to any one ofthe preceding claims, said package comprising frame means, said meansbeing disposed between said charge of smoking articles and the walls ofsaid enclosure.